Sustainable Jute Fiber Sandwich Composites with Hybridization of Short Fiber and Woven Fabric Structures in Core and Skin Layers

Abstract

Sustainable hybrid composites, made of two different natural plant fiber types, are increasingly being attracted by composite researchers, for their cost effectiveness and ability to control mechanical performances through varying weight ratios of different fibers. In contrast, their lower mechanical properties are reported in the literature, because of strength variations of different fiber types and an improper fiber-matrix stress distribution. Therefore, it is aimed to develop sustainable hybrid composites from two dry fiber preforms—woven fabric and short fiber preform—originated from same fiber type (jute). A highly packed short fiber preform is used as the core layer, while woven fabrics (plain/twill–rib/twill–diamond) are used in the skin layers for producing sandwiched hybrid jute composites. Mechanical tests and scanning electron microscopy images show that hybridized plain fabric/short fiber preform composites have better mechanical properties (≈58 MPa tensile strength/≈117 MPa flexural strength/≈112.12 kJm⁻² impact strength with an ≈487.4% improvement) compared to other fabric structures hybrid/nonhybrid composites. This enhancement is related to the interlocking of short fibers with long plain fabric leading to a strong fiber-matrix interfacial bonding. Thus, this developed hybrid composites, can be applied in many semi-structural applications, wherein composites’ low cost and mechanical performances are primary concerns.